Method and apparatus for forming an insulated electrical connection



June 4, 1968 R. R. LAU ET AL 3,386,153

RATUS FOR PO METHOD AND APPA RMING AN INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Filed Sept. 23, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 4, 1968 R. R. LAU ET AL 3,386,153

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AN INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Filed Sept. 23. 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ONL N- wo- 0N M Pm OP) w/ n QM m QM 0m Q3 Q3 1001 t mom June 4, 1968 LAU ET AL 3,386,153

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AN INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 25, 1965 June 4, 1968 R. R. LAU E L 3,38 ,153

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AN INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 23, 1965 Tom II N wmw rw June 4, 1968 R LAU ET AL 3,386,153

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AN INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Filed Sept. 23, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 4. 1968 R LAU ET AL 3,386,153

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AN INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION Filed Sept. 23, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent 3,386,153 METHQD AND APPARATUS FQR FORMING AN ENSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTKQIJ Ralph R. Lau and Gilbert C. Sitz, Harrisburg, Pa, assignor to All/ll? Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Sept. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 489,558 6 Claims. (Cl. 29-203) This invention relates to the art of pre-insulated electrical connections and more particularly to an apparatus for applying insulation to a previously connected terminal and electrical conductor.

In the electrical connection field there have been numerous attempts to pre-insulate an electrical terminal wherein both the terminal ferrule and the insulating member are of open U-shaped configuration. Most such attempts, prior to this invention, have been unsuccessful for various reasons, some of which will become apparent as this discussion proceeds.

At present, when it is desired to pre-insulate a terminal having an open U-shaped ferrule-forming portion, it is the practLe to take such a terminal and secure thereto a strip of insulating material. The terminal, with the insulating material thus secured, is then placed between the jaws of a crimping tool. An electrical conductor is then inserted into the space formed by the open U, and the jaws of the crimping tool are then closed so as to accomplish in one operation the crimping of both the terminal and the insulating member to the electrical conductor. The force exerted by the crimping tool is carried through the insulating member to the terminal, this being necessary beiause the terminal does not come into direct contact with the crimping tool. Examples of this type of operation are disclosed in US. patents, No. 2,786,191, granted to W. F. Broske; No. 2,845,606, granted to G. A. Fuller; and No. 3,048,650, granted to J. W. Allen et al.

The present invention provide several distinct advantages over the prior art above referred to. In the prior art devices the pressure applied during the crimping operation must be held within close limits. The pressure must be great enough to accomplish an effective crimp of the ferrule to the conductor but at the same time the pressure must be held below that point which would cause rupturing of the relatively fragile insulating material. This problem is avoided by the present invention wherein the crimping of the insulating member is accomplished in a separate operation from the crimping of the ferrule, thereby permitting relatively high pressure during the ferrule crimping operation and relatively low pressure during the insulating member crimping operation. Further, as will become apparent, the two stage operation of the present invention is accomplished with no loss of time as compared with the single stage operation of the prior known devices.

In the single stage operation there is a limited number of materials which can be used for the insulating material because such material must be capable of withstanding high crimping pressure without rupturing and the material must be capable of transmitting the forces from the crimping tool to the ferrule. In the present invention these properties need not be possessed by the insulating material, the only essential requirement being that the material is an electrical insulator.

Another drawback of the known devices is that the terminals must be specially constructed and adapted to receive the insulating member. In contrast the present invention is designed for use with standard presently available terminals.

Also, the prior known devices require a step of securing the insulating material to the terminal prior to the crimping operation. This step is not necessary in practicing the present invention.

Patented June 4, 1368 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for forming an insulated electrical connection while avoiding the drawbacks of the known devices above referred to.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for forming an insulated electrical connection utilizing high crimping pressure on the terminal ferrule and low crimping pressure on the insulating member.

A still further object is to provide a machine for performing two diverse crimping operations in the same time as now required for a single crimping operation.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purpose of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in Various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts:

FlGURE 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus forming a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FEGURE 2 is a side elevation, partly in section and taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 3;

FTGURE 3 is a front elevation, partly in section and taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the ram in its lowered position;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view showing the crimping heads and movable shear blades as seen when looking along line 6-6 of FIGURE 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line '77 of FIGURE 6 and showing the adjustment means for one of the crimping heads;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of the movable shear assembly;

FIGURE 9 is an exploded perspective view of the insulation strip feed assembly;

FIGURE 10 is a fluid flow diagram showing schematically the power system of the invention; and

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view showing the completed electrical connection made in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 the apparatus comprises a first crimping and shearing station A,- a second crimping and shearing station E, a terminal feed assembly C, an insulation feed assembly D, and a transfer assembly E. Briefly stated, the operation is such that a strip of electrical terminals is fed by assembly C to station A. An electrical conductor is positioned at station A above the terminal at the lead end of the strip. The parts are then Crimped and the terminal is severed from its strip. A strip of insulating members is fed by assembly D to station 13. Assembly E transfers the crimped terminal and conductor from station A to station B in a position above the insulating member at the lead end of the strip. The insulating member is then severed from its strip and crimped to the terminal and conductor thus forming a completed insulated electrical connection.

The various parts and operation of the device will now be described in detail.

The terminal feed assembly C is best illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 4. To the frame of the machine is secured a mounting plate 22. An L-shaped bracket 24 is secured to plate 22 and carries thereon a spacing block 26 secured to bracket 24 by means of a screw 28. Secured to block 26, by means of set screws (not shown) is a plate 30 along the upper surface of which the strip of terminals will slide. A pair of guide members 32 and 34 are secured to plate 30 by means of four screws 36, only two of which are shown. These guide members, together with plate 30, form a channel 37 to define the path of movement of the terminal strip. Secured to guide member 34 by means of one of the screws 36 is a bracket 38 for suspending the upper portion of the feed assembly. A double-acting fluid cylinder 40 is secured to bracket 38 and carries at its rear portion a bracket 42 to which is secured the terminal strip guide 44. The guide 44 functions to lead the strip into channel 37 from a supply source (not shown). The cylinder 40 has a piston member 46 which adjustably carries a stop member 48 for limiting the retracting motion of the piston. The stop 48 has a bifurcated end 50 which slides along a rod member 52 secured to a bracket 38. The rod 52 serves to prevent any rotative movement of piston 46. A forked member 54 is adjustably secured to piston 46 and is held in adjusted position by a nut 56. The forked ends of member 54 receive a pin 58 which pivotally supports a feed finger 60. The finger 60 is biased into engagement with the upper surface of guide members 32 and 34 by means of a spring 62 wrapped around pin 58. A strip of terminals 64, made up of individual terminals 66, 68, '70 is positioned in channel 37 and is fed therealong by engagement of the feed finger 60 with the upstanding barrel portion of the terminal, as best seen in FIGURE 2. FIGURE 2 shows finger 60 at the forward end of its stroke after having advanced terminal 66 into position at station A. FIGURE 4 shows finger 60 at the rearward end of its stroke moving into position behind the barrel of terminal 70 to thereby move terminal 68 into position at station A upon the next forward stroke of finger 60.

At the forward end of feed assembly C is the crimping and cutting station A which will now be described with particular reference to FIGURES l, 2 and 3. A ram 72, driven by suitable means, not shown, has at its end a mounting block 74 formed integrally with said ram. Secured to block 74 by means of a bolt 76 and lock nuts 78 is a first crimping head 80. Also held in place by bolt 76 and nuts 78 is a shear blade 82. The blade 82 has a lower cutting surface 84 and a recessed portion 86. The upper surface of blade 82 is relieved at 88 (see FIGURE 6) to permit limited pivotal movement of the blade about bolt 76. The blade is normally biased into a vertical position by means of a leaf spring 90 secured to block 74 by set secrews 02 and 94. Secured to plate 22 is a first crimping die 96 for cooperation with crimping head 80. Adjacent to die 96 is a fixed shear member 98. A second fixed shear member is spaced from member 98 by a pair of spacers 102, one of which is shown, and as shown in FIGURE 4 the shear blade 82 moves between members 98 and 100 to sever the leading terminal from the strip. The shear face of member 100 is recessed at its lower end as indicated at 104 to provide clearance for the material severed from the terminal strip. Also the bracket 24 has a central groove 106 permitting the discharge of the severed material 108, see FIGURE 4.

The insulating member feed assembly D will now be described with reference to FIGURES 3, 8 and 9. A U- shaped block 110 is secured to plate 22. A pair of gibs 112 and 114 are positioned in parallel relationship on the upper surface of a guide plate 116. The gibs 112, and 114, the plate 116, and the block 110 are secured together by a pair of set screws 118. A double-acting fluid cylinder is secured to plate 116 by a mounting block 122. The piston 124 of cylinder 120 is provided with a threaded portion 126 to adjustably hold a fork member 128. A nut 130 secures member 123 in adjusted position. A feed finger 132 is pivotally secured to member 128 by pin 134. Encircling pin 134 is a spring 136 which biases finger 132 counterclockwise as seen in FIGURE 3. Finger 132 is provided at its end with a pair of lugs 138 which ride in slots 140 in plate 116. The lugs 138 will engage cross pieces 142 on the insulation strip to feed the insulating members to station B. Flanges 144 on gibs 112 and 114 overlie the slots 140 to maintain pieces 142 in engagement with lugs 138. The gibs 112 and 114 are further provided with diagonal slots 146 within which are located spring strips 148 secured to the gibs by screws 150. The strips 148 prevent retrograde movement of the insulation strip upon retraction of feed finger 132. A typical insulation strip is shown in FIGURE 8 and indicated generally at 152. The strip 152 is of ladder configuration and consists of U-shaped insulating members 154, 156, 158 secured by the cross pieces 142 to carrier strips 160. If the material of which the insulating members are made is sufiiciently rigid only one carrier strip need be used. In such case only one of the lugs 138 of feed finger 132 will be used.

Crimping and severing station B is best shown in FIG- URES l, 3 and 8. A second crimping head 162 is secured to block 74 adjacent to the first crimping head 80. The head 162 performs the crimp on the insulating member. Since the material of the insulating members may vary, different crimping pressures are sometimes desired. The crimping pressure is controlled by the spacing between the movable crimping head and the fixed crimping die. To allow for varying the spacing of the crimping tools, head 162 is secured to block 74 by a screw 164 extending through an elongated slot 166 in head 162 (See FIGURE 7). A wedge 168 is movable in block '74 by a screw 170 and contacts the tapered upper surface 172 of crimping head 162. Movement of wedge 168 will cause the rising or lowering of head 162. A second fixed crimping die 174 is secured to plate 22 and cooperates with crimping head 162. A spacer member 176 separates the crimping dies 174 and 96. Adjacent to die 174 is the movable shear assembly 178, best shown in FIGURES 3, 5 and 8. The assembly comprises a central support 180 having end portions 182 and 184 secured thereto. The assembly is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement and is biased upwardly by a spring 186. The upper surface 188 of support 180 constitutes an impact surface and lies beneath one end 190 of crimping head 162. Upon descent of head 162 the end 100 will contact surface 188 and drive the shear assembly downward. The crimping die 174 is received in a channel 192 formed in the support 180. A shear member 194 is secured to end portion 182 by screws 196 and a shear member 198 is secured to end portion 184 by screws 200. The crimping die 174 has shear faces 202 and 204 at opposite ends of its upper surface. Shear member 194 has a shear face 206 and shear member 198 has a shear face 208. Upon descent of shear assembly 178 the shear faces 202 and 206 cooperate to cut the insulating strip along line 210 and shear faces 204 and 208 cooperate to cut the insulating strip along line 212. Located on the opposite side of shear assembly 178 from crimping die 174 is a shear member 214 secured to block 116 by a pin 216. An L-shaped spring plate 218 (see FIGURE 3), secured to block 110 by screw 220, urges the shear member 214 into engagement with the shear assembly 178 and also serves to prevent any rocking movement of the assembly 178. The shear member 214 has lower surfaces 216 and 218 which cooperate with surfaces 220 and 222 on end portions 184 and 182 respectively to limit the upward movement of assembly 178. A pair of shear faces 224 and 226 are formed in the upper surface of shear member 214. Shear member 198 has a second shear face 228 and shear member 194 has a second shear face 230. When the shear assembly 178 is moved downwardly, shear faces 226 and 228 cooperate to sever one of the carrier strips 160 along line 232 and shear faces 218 and 230 cooperate to sever the other carrier strip 160. Support 180 is provided with bevelled surfaces 233 to provide a passageway for the dis-charge of the severed portions of the carrier strips.

The transfer assembly E is best shown in FIGURES l. and 3. A support 234 is secured to plate 22 by screws 236 and a double-action fluid cylinder 238 is secured to support 234 by mounting screws 240. An adjustable stop member 242 is secured to the piston 244 of cylinder 238 by a set screw 246. The stop 242 limits the rearward movement of piston 244 and has a bifurcated end to receive a rod 248 secured to support 234. The rod 248 serves to prevent any rotative movement of piston 244. A mounting block 250 is threadably secured to piston 244 and held in adjusted position by nut 252. The block 250 pivotally carries a pair of arms 254 and 256. The arm 254 is biased in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 1, by a spring 258 fastened at its ends to an ear 260 on arm 254 and an car 262 on block 250. Arm 254 has an upstanding end portion 264 which serves to transfer a conductor 266 (see FIGURE 2) from station A to station B. The other arm 256 is biased counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 3, by a spring 268 fastened at its ends to an ear 270 on arm 256 and an ear 272 on block 250. The arm 256 has an end portion 274 having a groove 276 adapted to fit over the tongue portion of a terminal and transfer the terminal from station A to station B. A pin 278 (see also FIGURE 2) extends laterally from the arm 256 into the plane occupied by the shear blade 82. Upon retraction of arm 256 the pin 278 will contact blade 82 and pivot the blade out of cutting position into the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 6, for a purpose to be described later. A bracket 280 is secured to bracket 24 by screw 282 and has an upper U-shaped portion 284. One leg 286 of portion 284 serves as a stripper for the conductor 266 upon raising the ram 72. The other leg 288 serves the dual purpose of stripping the terminal from crimping head 162 and also of forming a guideway 29% for the arm 256.

FIGURE 3 shows the microswitches for controlling the operation of the device. A bracket 292 is secured to plate 22 by screws 294. A pair of microswitches 294 and 295 are secured to bracket 292 by screws 296 and have spring arms 298 and 299, the latter being hidden in FIGURE 3, carrying rollers 300 and 301. The arms 298 and 299 depress switches 392 for controlling the fluid flow to the various cylinders in a manner to be described. A bracket 304 is secured to block 74 and carries switch contacting cams 386 and 308. The cams 306 and 308 are adjustable in elongated slots 310 in bracket 304 (see FIGURE 7) to vary the timing of the machine. A third microswitch 312 is secured to bracket 292 and carries a spring arm 314 and a roller 316. A switch contacting cam 318 is carried on stop member 242 of transfer assembly E. Upon reciprocation of the transfer cylinder piston 244 the cam 318 will contact roller 316 and actuate microswitch 312 to control the flow of fluid into cylinder 40 in a manner to be now described.

FIGURE 10 shows schematically the fluid flow to the Various cylinders in the device. Fluid enters the system via a conduit 328 from a fluid source (not shown) and enters solenoid controlled valve 322. The valve 322 is movable between a first position shown in full lines and a second position shown in dotted lines. When valve 322 is in its first position the fluid will flow from conduit 320 into branch 324, which branch communicates with the rear of cylinder 120 by means of artery 326 and with the rear of cylinder 238 by means of artery 328. Branch 324 terminates in a second solenoid controlled normally closed valve 338. When valve 322 is in its second position the fluid will flow from conduit 320 into branch 332, which branch communicates with the front of cylinder 12% by means of artery 334, with the front of cylinder 40 by means of artery 336, and with the front of cylinder 238 by means of branch 332. The valve 330 is movable between a first position shown in full lines and a second normally closed position shown in dotted lines. When valve 330 is in its first position, there is communication between branch 324 and artery 338 whereby fluid is introduced into the rear of cylinder 40, whereas when valve 330 is in its second position the fluid in branch 324 is blocked and cannot enter cylinder 40. Valve 322 is controlled by microswitches 294 and 295 through suitable wiring 340 while valve 33% is controlled by microswitch 312 through suitable wiring 342.

The sequence of operation of the above fluid system will now be described. Starting with the ram in the down position, the valves 322 and 330 will be in their dotted line position so that fiuid will be in communication with the front of cylinders 128, 40 and 238 causing their respective pistons 124, 46 and 244 to be in their retracted position. As the ram ascends and nears its upper limit the cam 306 will contact roller 308 of microswitch 294 causing valve 322 to shift to its full line position thereby affording communication between conduit 328 and branch 324. Fluid in branch 324 will enter arteries 326 and 328 causing pistons 124 and 244 to move to their extended position. As piston 244 moves to its extended position the cam 318 fixed to said piston will contact roller 316 of microswitch 312 causing valve 339 to momentarily shift to its full line position. This will cause fluid flow into the rear of cylinder 41) and thereby cause the piston 46 to move to its extended positions. The valve 330 will then immediately return to its normally closed position. Upon the next descent of the ram 72, and near the lower limit of its stroke, the cam 308 will contact the roller 310 of microswitch 295 causing valve 322 to shift back to its dotted line position whereby fluid will flow through branch 332 causing fluid to enter the front of cylinders 120, 40 and 238 whereby their respective pistons will again be retracted.

FIGURE 11 shows the completed product made by the method and apparatus of the present invention. A terminal 346 has its ferrule portion 348 crimped to the bare wire 35%) of a stripped electrical conductor 352. An insulating member 354 has its ends 356 crimped around the ferrule 348 and conductor 352 to produce an insulated electrical connection.

The overall operation of the device will now be described. A strip of terminals is placed in feed assembly C with terminal 66 in crimping position at station A. A strip of insulating members is placed in feed assembly D with the member at the lead end of the strip positioned to the left of station B as viewed in FIGURE 1. The ram '72 starts in the up position so assemblies C, D and E are all in their extended position. The conductor 266 is placed in position at station A in the region bounded by the ferrule of terminal 66 and the crimping head 80. The operator then starts the machine, by depressing a foot pedal or the like, and the ram begins its descent. As the ram descends the crimping head loosely engages the terminal 66, and the shear member 82 severs terminal 66 from the remainder of the strip. As the ram 72 continues to descend earn 308 contacts roller 301 causing microswitch 295 to swing the valve 322 into'the dotted line position of FIG- URE 10. This causes assemblies C, D and E to move to their retracted position. During retraction the feed finger 68 will ride over the terminals on the strip, the arm 256 will ride over and onto terminal 66, and arm 254 will swing downwardly under conductor 266. The head 80 then crimps the terminal 66 to conductor 266. During a crimping operation there is a certain amount of extrusion which takes place as a result of the compressing of the material. Therefore, terminal 66 will elongate during crimping and provision must be made to allow for this elongation. It is for this purpose that shear blade 82 has a recessed portion 86 to partially compensate for this extruding effect. Also, the pin 278 on arm 256 will contact the shear blade 82 during the retraction of arm 256 and swing the blade out of cutting position to provide ample clearance for the elongation of the terminal and for the latters subsequent transfer. The ram next ascends causing cam 3% to contact roller Still causing microswitch 294 to shift to its full line position of FIGURE thus causing assembly D to feed an insulating member into position at station B and assembly E to transfer the crimped terminal and conductor into position at station E above the insulating member. When the arm 25% is approximately midway between stations A and B the end portion 274 will have moved away from station A where it would have blocked the feed in of another terminal. At this point the earn 318 will contact roller 316 causing microswitch 312 to momentarily swing valve 339 into its full line position of FIGURE 10 thus causing assembly C to feed terminal 68 into position at station A. When the operator again depresses the foot pedal or the like the ram 72 will descend causing blade 82 to sever terminal 68 from the terminal strip and causing crimping head St to crimp terminal $8 to a second conductor which has been positioned at station A. In this embodiment the conductors are positioned by hand although obviously there could be suitable mechanism for perform ing this function. At the same time that terminal 68 is being crimped the crimping head 162 is crimping the insulating member to terminal 66 and the shear assembly 178 is severing the insulating member from its strip. The cycle is then repeated. It can be seen, therefore, that on each descent of the ram '72 two complete operations are performed whereby an insulating member is crimped to the terminal which was crimped on the preceding stroke of the ram. Thus there is no loss of time over a single stage operation wherein both the terminal and insulating member would be crimped together. Also, by adjustment of head 162 relative to head 8i? it is possible to independently vary the crimping pressure of the insulation member relative to that of ti e terminal.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective against the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for performing a two-stage crimping operation, said apparatus comprising a frame, a first crimping station located on said frame, a second crimping stationlocated on said frame adjacent to said first crimping station, first and second crimping dies located respectively at said first and second crimping stations, means for feeding electrical terminals in strip form to said first crimping station, crimping head means at said first crimping station and cooperating with said first crimping die for performing a crimping operation on said electrical terminals, severing means at said first crimping station for severing said terminal from said strip immediately prior to said crimping operation at said first station, means for transferring said terminals to said second crimping station subsequent to said crimping operation, means for feeding insulating members in strip form to said second crimping station simultaneously with the movement of said transferring means whereby said terminal overlies said insulating member, crimping head means at said second crimping station and cooperating with said second crimping die for crimping said insulating member to said terminal, and severing means at said second crimping station for severing said insulating member from said strip immediately prior to said crimping operation at said second station.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising means responsive to movement of either of said crimping means for controlling the movement of said transfer means and said second article feeding means in two directions and said first article feeding means in a first direction, and means responsive to movement of said transfer means for controlling movement of said first article feeding means in a second direction.

3. Apparatus for forming an insulated electrical connection comprising a frame, a first crimping station located on said frame, a second crimping station located on said frame and adjacent to said first station, a first crimping die fixed to said frame at said first station, a second crimping die fixed to said frame at said second station, a ram movable toward and away from said dies, first and second crimping heads carried by said ram for cooperation with said first and second crimping dies respectively, a first feed means mounted on said frame for feeding electrical terminals to said first station, a second feeding means mounted on said frame for feeding insulating members to said second station, transfer means mounted on said frame for transferring terminals to said second station after said terminals have been crimped at said first station and means at said first station for severing said terminal from a strip to which it is attached, said severing means being operable prior to the crimping operation at said station.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising means at said second station for severing said insulating member from a strip to which it is attached, said severing means being operable prior to the crimping operation at said station.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said severing means comprises a pair of laterally spaced cutting blades, means mounted between said cutting blades and rigidly fixed thereto, said latter means being positioned in underlying relationship with respect to said second crimping head whereby said second crimping head, during movement through a crimping stroke, contacts said last named means and drives the cutting blades through their cutting stroke.

6. Apparatus for forming an insulated electrical connection comprising a frame, a first work station located on said frame, a second work station located on said frame adjacent to said first work station, said first work station comprising a first fixed crimping die and a first fixed shear die, said second work station comprising a second fixed crimping die, opposite ends of said die constituting fixed shear surfaces, and a pair of fixed, laterally spaced shear members having shear faces extending at right angles to the end faces of said second crimping die, a movable shear blade assembly at said second work station, said assembly comprising a pair of parallel, laterally spaced shear members, said shear members having a first pair of shear faces for cooperation with the end faces of said second crimping die and a second pair of shear faces for cooperation with said pair of fixed shear members, an impact surface mounted between said movable shear members and rigidly attached thereto, biasing means mounted between said movable shear blade assembly and said frame for biasing said assembly to a nonshearing position, a first feed assembly secured to said frame for feeding terminals in strip form to said first work station, said feed assembly comprising a channel for guiding said terminals, a feed finger biased into contact with said channel, said finger adapted to contact an upstanding portion of said terminal, and a double-acting fluid cylinder operatively connected to said feed finger to reciprocate said finger and thereby feed said terminals to said first work station, a second feed assembly for feeding insulating members in strip form to said second work station, said assembly comprising a guide channel, a pair of elongated slots in the base of said channel, a bifurcated feed member disposed beneath said channel and biased into engagement with said channel, the bifurcated ends of said member extending through said slots into engagement with said strip, and a double-acting fluid cylinder operatively connected to said feed member for reciprocating said member along said channel to thereby feed the insulating members to said second Work station, a transfer assembly mounted on said frame and comprising a first arm position for engagement with a terminal located at said first work station and having a laterally extending pin, a second arm positioned for engagement with an electrical conductor positioned at said first work station to be crimped to said terminal, said first and second arms being secured to the piston of a double-acting fluid cylinder, a switch-contacting cam fixed to said piston, said fluid cylinder being operative to reciprocate said transfer means to thereby transfer a terminal and connector from said first work station to said second work station, a microswitch for controlling the flow of fluid into the cylinder for the [first feed means, said switch being actuated by said cam on said piston of the transfer means cylinder, a reciprocable ram, a first crimping head secured to said ram for cooperation with said first fixed crimping die, a second crimping head adjustably secured to said ram for cooperation with said second fixed crimping die, a movable shear blade pivotally mounted on said ram for cooperation with said fixed shear blade at said first work station, said movable shear blade being normally biased into cutting position and being pivotable out of cutting position by said pin on said transfer assembly upon retrograde movement of said transfer assembly, first and sec- 0nd switch-operating cams on said ram, a first microswitch on said frame and actuated by said first cam for controlling the flow of fluid into one end of the cylinders for the first and second feed assemblies and the transfer assembly, and a second microswitch on said frame and actuated by said second cam for controlling the flow of fluid into a second end of the cylinders for the second feed assembly and the transfer assembly, and means on said ram for engagement with said impact surface on said movable shear blade assembly to move said assembly through a cutting stroke.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,409,147 10/1946 Neuhaus et al. 29203 2,760,195 8/1956 Berg 29203 X 2,765,468 10/1956 Cootes et al. 29-203 2,808,640 10/1957 Biddison 29--205 2,845,108 7/ 1958 Hammell et al. 29-203 3,239,924 3/1966 Wagner 29-203 3,329,002 7/1967 Schwalm 72416 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING A TWO-STAGE CRIMPING OPERATION, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A FRAME, A FIRST CRIMPING STATION LOCATED ON SAID FRAME, A SECOND CRIMPING STATION LOCATED ON SAID FRAME ADJACENT TO SAID FIRST CRIMPING STATION, FIRST AND SECOND CRIMPING DIES LOCATED RESPECTIVELY AT SAID FIRST AND SECOND CRIMPING STATIONS, MEANS FOR FEEDING ELECTRICAL TERMINALS IN STRIP FORM TO SAID FIRST CRIMPING STATION, CRIMPING HEAD MEANS AT SAID FIRST CRIMPING STATION AND COOPERATING WITH SAID FIRST CRIMPING DIE FOR PERFORMING A CRIMPING OPERATION ON SAID ELECTRICAL TERMINALS, SEVERING MEANS AT SAID FIRST CRIMPING STATION FOR SEVERING SAID TERMINAL FROM SAID STRIP IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO SAID CRIMPING OPERATION AT SAID FIRST STATION, MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING SAID TERMINALS TO SAID SECOND CRIMPING STATION SUBSEQUENT TO SAID CRIMPING OPERATION, MEANS FOR FEEDING INSULATING MEMBERS IN STRIP FORM TO SAID SECOND CRIMPING STATION SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE MOVEMENT OF SAID TRANSFERRING MEANS WHEREBY SAID TERMINAL OVERLIES SAID INSULATING MEMBER, CRIMPING HEAD MEANS AT SAID SECOND CRIMPING STATION AND COOPERATING WITH SAID SECOND CRIMPING DIE FOR CRIMPING SAID INSULATING MEMBER TO SAID TERMINAL, AND SEVERING MEANS AT SAID SECOND CRIMPING STATION FOR SEVERING SAID INSULATING MEMBER FROM SAID STRIP IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO SAID CRIMPING OPERATION AT SAID SECOND STATION. 